Feather River softball team wins co-championship

The Feather River College softball team tied for first place in the Golden Valley Conference with College of the Siskiyous, after each team finished the regular season with league records of 15-5.

After a tie breaker scenario, FRC is the top seeded team from the Golden Valley Conference going into this year’s playoffs, but as far as conference is concerned, FRC and Siskiyous are co-champions.

The conference title was decided last Saturday at FRC, when the Golden Eagles hosted Siskiyous for a league-closing doubleheader.

The teams were tied for first place in conference going into the match, and they split the two games to share the league championship.

Siskiyous hit six home runs in the first game to win 15-5, but Feather River bounced back and won the second game 7-2.

“This team has been resilient all season,” said FRC coach Josh Taylor. “We have continually rebounded from adversity, and this was no different. It is a true testament to a team’s character when they can respond after a tough loss.”

Siskiyous has dominated the conference over the past few seasons. Last year, COS made it to the final four at the state championships, finishing with an overall record of 45-3.

After Siskiyous defeated FRC in game one last Saturday, the Golden Eagles faced a must-win situation in game two, to share the conference title.

FRC pitcher Erica Wieck took on the task of slowing down a Siskiyous offense that dominated Feather River in the first game.

Wieck proved to be up for the challenge, as she gave up only two runs on seven hits and allowed the Golden Eagle offense to take charge.

“Erica did what champions do today,” said Taylor. “She went out and competed. She hit her spots and kept their bats off balance.”

Feather River jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning, as Kylee Rogers hit a two-out single to score both Brittany Potter and Leah Justice.

Chelsea Venable added two more runs in the third inning, when she delivered a home run over the center field fence.

Feather River added to its lead in the fourth inning with an RBI double by Dani Ming and an RBI single by Leah Justice.

This brought the score to 7-0, and that was all the offense Wieck needed.

The Golden Eagles went on to win 7-2, capturing their first Golden Valley Conference title since 2006, when FRC won a co-championship with College of the Redwoods.

Feather River could receive a possible first-round playoff game at home. The seeding meetings will be Friday, April 23. Visit frc.edu for more updates on FRC softball.

Lassen sweep One day earlier, the Golden Eagles traveled to Lassen College to take on the Cougars last Friday, April 16.

FRC won the first game 10-0 and won the second game 11-3.

In game one, the Golden Eagles wasted no time, as they quickly jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning.

FRC’s offense was led by freshman catcher Chelsea Venable, as she collected two hits and three RBIs. Freshman second baseman Leah Justice also had two hits and two RBIs.

FRC pitcher Annalee Rubio was dominating in the circle, as she threw a complete game shutout. Rubio surrendered only one hit while striking out eight.

Feather River's offense remained relentless in game two, as the Golden Eagles collected 12 hits while scoring 11 runs.

The offense was led by Chelsea Venable's three hits, while Dani Ming and Leah Justice had two a piece.

Erica Wieck threw another solid game, surrendering only three runs on three hits in five innings.

Shasta sweep The Golden Eagles defeated Shasta College 9-1 and 10-5 Saturday, April 10, to put themselves in contention for the league title.

Shasta initially took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, before Erica Wieck tied the game with an RBI single in the top of the third inning.

On the next at bat, Brittany Potter nailed a two-RBI home run.

In the top of the fifth inning, Potter started things with a double, and then Chelsea Venable connected with a two-run hit.

An RBI double by FRC’s Leah Justice and a three-RBI hit by Alisha Perry brought the Golden Eagles’ lead to 9-1.

FRC pitcher Annalee Rubio held the Knights in check, and Feather River won game one by the eight-run mercy rule.

In game two the Knights again took an early advantage, this time with a 3-0 lead.

It took FRC a couple innings to catch up, but they tied the game in the third inning with RBIs by Wieck and Potter, and then a solo homer by Perry.

Shasta regained the lead with one run in the bottom of the sixth for a 4-3 advantage.

FRC regained control in the bottom of the frame with a two-run homer by Wieck.

The Golden Eagles then racked up four straight hits and five more runs to put the game away.

Redwoods sweep The day before, FRC visited College of the Redwoods and won both games 6-2 and 7-1 Friday, April 9.

Game one got off to a good start for FRC, as Dani Ming started the action with a lead-off double. Ming would come around to score, giving the Golden Eagles an early 1-0 lead.

The Corsairs answered with a two-RBI home run in the bottom of the third inning, giving the Redwoods a 2-1 lead.

That lead didn’t last long, as Feather River quickly scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning.

The Eagles totaled five hits in the inning, including doubles by Kylee Rogers and Leah Justice, followed by a triple by Dani Ming.

That was all the offense FRC pitcher Annalee Rubio needed, as she shut the door on the Corsairs’ bats by surrendering only one run on two hits while striking out eight. This was her 11th win of the season.

Game two proved to be much of the same, as the Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning behind back-to-back doubles by Brittany Potter and Chelsea Venable.

Both Venable and Potter scored on a Shelby Watts single. Redwoods barely caught their breath, as the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 7-0 lead after three innings.

FRC pitcher Erica Wieck dominated in the circle, giving up no runs over six innings, while striking out the last two batters she faced.

Feather River’s offense had eight different starters with one hit each.